Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Sports Law - "Department of Justice asks NCAA why it does not have football playoff"

Christine Varney, Assistant U.S. Attorney General heading the Antitrust Division of the DOJ, sent a letter dated May 3, 2010 to Mark A. Emmert, head of the NCAA. Erick Smith reports in a USA Todaystory posted at 4:36 PM:

The Department of Justice has sent a letter to the NCAA asking why it does not hold a playoff to determine a college football national champion.

The letter questions whether the Bowl Championship Series system violates antitrust rules because it excludes some conferences from playing in major bowl games.

The NCAA has responded snippily to reports of a letter from the Justice Department on the subject of the Bowl Championship Series and whether the governing body has looked into a playoff for FBS football.

Well, snippily to SB Nation, not to the NCAA:

“When we actually receive the letter from the Department of Justice we will respond to its questions directly. It should be noted that President Emmert consistently has said, including in the New York Times article, that the NCAA is willing to help create a playoff format for Football Bowl Subdivision football if the FBS membership makes that decision.”